MIC 1:11 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:8–16: Micah mourned because an enemy army will invade Judah and take many people into exile

In 1:5, Micah mentioned the sins of the people in Samaria and Jerusalem. In 1:6–7, he predicted that the LORD would destroy Samaria. Here in 1:8–16, he predicted that the LORD would also punish the people in Judah, including Jerusalem. He would punish them by causing an enemy army to invade Judah.

This section has two paragraphs: 1:8–9 and 1:10–16. In the first paragraph, Micah said that he would “lament and wail” (BSB). He described the way that he would mourn and then gave the reason. In the second paragraph, he mentioned several cities in Judah that an enemy army would soon attack on its way to Jerusalem. Some versions have separate section headings for each paragraph. The Notes will include both paragraphs as part of the same section. Here are some other examples of section headings for the entire section (1:8–16):

Lament for Jerusalem and the lowland towns (NJB)

Judah Is Doomed (CEV)

The Doom of the Cities of Judah (NRSV)

Micah mourned the disaster that will happen to various cities in Judah

If you choose to use separate section headings for 1:8–9 and 1:10–16, here are some examples for 1:8–9:

Weeping and Mourning (NIV, BSB)

Micah’s Great Sadness (NCV)

Either the CEV or NRSV headings above will be appropriate for 1:10–16. Here is another example:

Disaster will happen to various cities in Judah

Paragraph 1:10–16

In this paragraph, Micah mentioned the names of eleven towns in Judah in addition to the city of Jerusalem (v.12). These towns were located in the foothills between the low coastal area and the mountains of Judah.EBC (page 508). According to A&F (page 212), some of the cities mentioned have not been identified, and it is not possible to guess the route of the attack or the identity of the invaders. It could have been any of several different kings.

In many English versions as well as TN, 1:10–16 forms one paragraph. Some versions divide it into two or three paragraphs. For example, the GNT has two paragraphs (10–14 and 15–16). The NLT has three paragraphs (10–12, 13–15, and 16). Use whatever paragraph structure is appropriate for your language.

Here are some of the poetic variations of Micah’s lament in 1:10–16:

In some verses, he spoke to the people in a particular town. In other verses, he spoke about them.
Sometimes he used plural nouns or pronouns to refer to the people in a particular town. At other times, he used singular nouns or pronouns.

English versions consistently use either plural or singular forms throughout these verses. For example, in 1:11b, the NJB uses singular pronouns:

She has not left her city, she who lives in Zanaan. (NJB)

The NIV uses a plural pronoun:

Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. (NIV)

You may use either singular or plural forms or a combination of the two, depending on what is natural and appropriate in your language.

In 1:10–16, Micah used past tense verbs to describe what was still in the future. See the notes on 1:9b and 1:9c for more details.

Micah also made puns with the names of several of the towns or cities. A pun is a figure of speech in which a person uses a word that has two meanings or a word that sounds like another word.

In some verses, he used a word that sounded like the name of that town.
In other verses, he said something about a town that was related to the meaning of its name.

Here is a brief summary of the puns in each verseThis summary is condensed and adapted from EBC (pages 407–8.) and some general advice on how to translate puns. Complete notes on each verse will start with 1:10a.

Beth-leaphrah (1:10b): The name of this city sounds like the Hebrew words that mean “house of dust.” Micah commanded those who live in that town to roll in the dust.
Shaphir (1:11a): This name means “beautiful” or “pleasant” in Hebrew. Micah said that the lives of the people in that town will not be pleasant.
Zaanan (1:11b): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “come out.” Micah said that the people there will not come out of their city.
Beth-ezel (1:11c): This name probably means “nearby house” in Hebrew. Micah said that Beth-ezel would no longer be nearby to serve as a “standing place” (protection, refuge) for Jerusalem.
Maroth (1:12a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “bitter.” Micah said that the people in that town will suffer bitterly.
Lachish (1:13): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “team of horses.” Micah told the people in that town to flee like running horses.
Moresheth (-gath) (1:14a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “betrothed” (engaged to be married). Just like a young woman departs from her family when she gets married, so the people in that town would soon depart from Judah.
Achzib (1:14b): This name means “deception” in Hebrew. That town will be a deception to the kings of Israel. These kings had hoped in vain that the people of Achzib would help them fight the enemy.
Mareshah (1:15a): This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “conqueror.” The LORD will bring an enemy to that town who will conquer them.

In addition to the above puns, Micah also included the names of two places (Gath 1:10a) and Adullam (1:15b) that are famous in Jewish history. Their significance will be discussed in the notes on those verses.

The people to whom Micah spoke over 2,700 years ago understood the puns. They also understood the historical significance of Gath and Adullam. But most people today do not understand these things. That is the reason it is difficult to translate these verses clearly. Here are some general options to consider in translating the puns:

Ignore the puns. Most English versions do this in the actual translation. Just translate the name in the Hebrew text. Those who read your translation will understand the basic meaning of each verse, but they will not know that there was a pun in Hebrew.
Use footnotes to explain the puns. Many English versions with footnotes do this. For example, the NIV uses footnotes at 1:10a, 11b, 12a, 13a, and 15a to explain that a name sounds like another Hebrew word. It uses other footnotes at 1:10b, 11a, and 14b to explain the meaning of the name of a town.
Explain in your translation the meaning or the sound of the names for the cities. If you use this option, you will need to clearly indicate in some way that this information is not part of your translation.

Choose an option that is appropriate for the readers in your language area.

1:11a

Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir.

You^(plur) who live in Shaphir, you will leave your town as prisoners, naked and ashamed.
O people of Shaphir, your enemies will capture you and force you to leave your town. You will be naked and ashamed at the time you leave.
To the Shaphir people I say: the name of your town means “pleasant place,” but you will leave that town as captives. Your enemies will take off your clothes and shame you.

Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir: Grammatically, Micah’s words Depart in shameful nakedness… are a command. However, his intention is not to command them to do something, but to predict what will happen to them. The people of Shaphir will be forced to leave their city in shame. In some languages, it may be clearer to express this as a future event. For example:

You inhabitants of Shaphir! You will depart naked and ashamed.

There is implied information in this verse. An enemy army will capture the people in Shaphir and take them away as slaves or as prisoners of war.

Here are some ways to make this implied information explicit:

You people of Shaphir, go into exile, naked and ashamed. (GNT)

You people of Shaphir, go as captives into exile—naked and ashamed. (NLT)

Depart: NJB understands that there is a pun between Shaphir and the Hebrew word shop̄har (“horn”). It has “Sound the horn, inhabitant of Shapir!” But this rendering would require changing the Hebrew text. It is not followed by other versions or supported by commentaries used in these notes. In Hebrew, the verb phrase used here means that the people in Shaphir will leave their city. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Pass on your way (ESV)

Take to the road (REB)

in shameful nakedness: In Hebrew, both these words are nouns (“nakedness and shame” (NRSV)). In many languages, it may be clearer to translate these nouns as adjectives or verbs. The BSB took a mixed approach. For example:

naked and ashamed (CEV)

Your captors will strip off your clothes and humiliate you.

When the enemy army captures the people in Shaphir, they will strip off the people’s clothes and lead the people away as captives. That is why the people will be naked and ashamed.

Shaphir: This name means “beautiful” or “pleasant” in Hebrew. But what will happen there will not be pleasant. It will be horrible. You may want to use a footnote to explain the implied information in 1:11a. For example:

1:11a Shaphir means “pleasant.” (NLT footnote)

The place name Shaphir means “pleasant” in Hebrew. (NET footnote)

See the third meaning line in the Display for a way to explain the meaning of the pun in the translation itself.

1:11b

The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out.

Those who reside in Zaanan will not leave their town.
As for the people in Zaanan, the name of their town sounds like “come out,” but they will be afraid to come out, because their enemies are outside.

The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out: In 1:11a, Micah talked to the people in Shaphir. But here in 1:11b, he talked about the people in Zaanan.

Zaanan: The name Zaanan sounds like the Hebrew word that means “come out” or “come forth.”The name Zaanan in Hebrew is ṣaʾanan, and “come out” is yaṣʾah. Both words have the consonants ṣ and ʾ. But even though the name of their town sounds like “come out,” the people there will not come out. They will remain inside their town.All English versions except the REB follow the interpretation that the residents of Zaanan will not or cannot come out. The REB has: “Have not the people of Zaanan gone out in shame from their city?”

You may want to use a footnote to make explicit the pun in 1:11b. For example:

[Zanaan] This name sounds like the Hebrew word for “come out.” (NCV footnote)

In some languages, it may be better to make this meaning explicit in the translation itself. For example:

As for the people in Zaanan, the name of their town sounds like “come out,” but they will not go out of their town.

will not come out: Zaanan probably had a wall around the town. The phrase will not come out means that the people will not go outside the wall. Hebrew and most English versions do not supply a reason for their staying inside. The implied reason is that an enemy army will be outside, so the people will be unable or unwilling to face them. In some languages, it may be helpful to make a reason explicit. For example:

Those who live in Zaanan do not dare to come out of their city. (GNT)

The residents of Zaanan can’t leave their city. (NET)

1:11c

Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you.

The people of Beth-ezel will wail. They will no longer be able to protect you^(plur).
The people who live in Beth-ezel will wail because they are sad. They will no longer be able to help you fight the enemy.
The people in Beth-ezel will wail. The name of their city means “nearby house,” but they will no longer be nearby to protect/help you.

Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you: There are at least three ways to interpret this sentence:

Beth-ezel will no longer help protect the people of Judah. It will withdraw its support, because it is in mourning. For example:
Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you. (NIV11)
When you hear the people of Bethezel mourn, you will know that there is no refuge there. (GNT) (BSB, GW, NCV, NIV11, NJPS, NRSV, REB, GNT)
Beth-ezel’s foundations will be destroyed. For example:
Beth-Ezel is torn from its foundations, from its strong supports. (NJB) (NJB, NLT)
Verse 1:11c is a direct quote. It is what the people in Beth-ezel will say:
The lamentation of Beth-ezel: “He will take from you its support.” (NASB) (NASB, NET)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

Beth-ezel: The name of this town is spelled in several ways in different versions. For example:

Beth-ezel (NJPS)

Beth Ezel (NIV)

Beth-Ezel (NJB)

Bethezel (GNT)

You may want to use a spelling that fits the phonetic rules of your language or a spelling that is used in a language of wider communication in your country.

The literal meaning of Beth-ezel in Hebrew is probably “house of nearness,” meaning “nearby house” or “house next door.” We do not know for sure whether Micah used a pun here. If he did, the probable meaning is that people in nearby towns hoped that the inhabitants of Beth-ezel would help them if an enemy attacked.

It may be helpful to use a footnote to help your readers understand the meaning of the possible pun. For example:

[Beth Ezel] This name means “house by the side of another,” suggesting help or support. (NCV footnote)

The place name Beth Ezel means “house of nearness” or “house of proximity” in Hebrew. (NET footnote)

If you do not use footnotes, you may decide to include the meaning of the place and possible pun in your translation. For example:

The people in Beth-ezel will wail. The name of their city means “nearby house,” but they will no longer be nearby to protect/help you.

its support is taken from you: In Hebrew, the word that most versions translations as “support,” “protection,” or “refuge” is literally “standing place” (RSV, ESV). It is difficult to know what “standing place” would mean in this context. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

its protection is taken from you (NIV)

they will not give you any support (NCV)

you will know that there is no refuge there (GNT)

Notice that the BSB and the NIV use a present tense verb. Remember that Micah spoke about a disaster that would happen to these cities in the future. When Micah spoke these words, this disaster had not yet happened. You should translate all the verses in 1:10–16 in a way that makes this meaning clear.

from you: The pronoun you is plural in Hebrew. It probably refers to the people of Judah in general.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear MIC 1:11